Differentiating Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Oligodendrocytes

Begin by seeding human embryonic stem cells onto a matrix-coated multiwell plate.

The matrix environment prevents untimely maturation into a specialized cell.

Add a suitable maintenance medium supplemented with dimethyl sulfoxide or DMSO.

DMSO treatment boosts the cells’ response to maturation signals.

Next, replace the medium with a neural induction medium containing specific inhibitors.

Inhibitors block the signals of non-neural cell development, guiding the stem cells to transform into neural progenitor cells or NPCs.

Replace the medium with a detachment solution to dissociate the NPCs. Replate the desired number of cells to another multiwell plate.

Add a cell-specific differentiation medium supplemented with DMSO to promote the transformation of NPCs into oligodendrocyte precursor cells or OPCs.

Replace the medium with a cell-specific maturation medium to facilitate the development of OPCs into oligodendrocytes.